Latest News

Australia's Pilbara Minerals eyes $800 mln road to double lithium output

Pilbara Minerals , Australia's biggest independent lithium manufacturer, on Friday set out a A$ 1.2 billion ($ 799.2 million) strategy to double production capacity for lithium spodumene at its Pilgangoora operation in Western Australia.

More spodumene from the miner's flagship operations could result in a decade of output averaging 1.9 million tonnes per year if it decides to push go on the job, following a. expediency research study anticipated to be completed in late 2025.

The expansion would require Pilbara Minerals to construct a. brand-new flotation plant for extracting lithium from the spodumene. that would be surrounding to an existing flotation plant to. constrain expenses. The strategy is being laid out as Pilbara keeps its. choices open for future production in the middle of low prices for the. battery material.

We anticipate the full suite of financing choices to be readily available. for us, which might include cash flow from our operations, and. federal government assistance. We could look at offtake and finance also. as financial obligation and equity, CEO Dale Henderson informed .

Pilbara had A$ 1.8 billion in money on its books as of March. 31, 2024.

The output plan is different to Pilbara's research study to procedure. its spodumene into a more lithium-rich product that could be. cost higher margins, for which it is building a demonstration. plant with Calix Ltd, he said.

The demonstration plant will trial electrical calciner. technology to make a lithium phosphate product including 18%. lithium, up from 5% to 6% contained lithium in spodumene.

The trial may yield knowings that might apply to other. tasks all over the world, and provide Pilbara another income. stream through licensing, Henderson stated.

Pilbara previously this year agreed to a study with China's. Ganfeng Lithium on options to build a 32,000. metric-ton-per-year lithium conversion facility.

The website for the plant has not been decided but a variety of. countries are being thought about, consisting of Australia.

Pilbara's shares fell 3.8% to A$ 3.08, amid weakness in. lithium miners, while the broader mining sub-index. dropped 0.3%.

(source: Reuters)